Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a glyph in which a plurality of design characteristics are extracted from a target font and a source glyph program is generated using the design characteristics. The source glyph program defines a new glyph that corresponds to a character that is not present in the target font, e.g., the Euro, and is stylistically similar to glyph of the target font. The new glyph may be added to the target font, it may be rendered on an output device, or it may be saved separately from the target font.

Abstract: A method and system for filtering a texture map representing three-dimensional objects or texture projections of environments is provided. Specifically, the three-dimensional object or texture projection is divided into a plurality of faces, which are stored in the texture map. Filtering of a texel or pixel near the edge of a first face includes a plurality of texels from the second face. A pointer and a stride parameter are stored in the texture map and used in the selection of the texels from the second face to be used in the filtering of the texel in the first face.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for rendering a pixel of a digital image. The system may comprise a texture map data structure representing a texture map of a plurality of texels; the texture map structure comprising a plurality of coefficients for each texel of the texture map; the plurality of coefficients defining lighting characteristics of the respective texel in response to illumination in a plane. The system may further comprise a modulation data structure; the modulation data structure defining a range of values associated with an illumination vector. Additionally, the system may comprise a rendering algorithm; the rendering algorithm operable to calculate a texel display value using the texture map data structure; the rendering algorithm operable to determine an illumination modulation value from the modulation data structure; and the rendering algorithm being operable to multiply the texel display value by the illumination modulation value to render a pixel.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are described for rasterizing a triangle. Pixel parameter values are interpolated by adding or subtracting a vertical delta and/or by adding or subtracting a horizontal delta within a 4×4 tile of 16 pixels.

Abstract: There is provided an method for a character-outputting apparatus which is capable of storing a character image defined by a character font, as bitmap data in the form of a dot matrix, and printing or displaying the character image. The bitmap data is converted temporarily to vector data when the character image is enlarged. Then a new line is drawn from a starting point of each vector of the vector data to an ending point of the vector in a vector direction, where is included a diagonal discontinuity between dots diagonally adjacent to each other, and an inside of the new line is filled to thereby regenerate bitmap data corresponding to the character image.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus (60) for rendering (i.e. coloring, texturing or shading) an image includes a tiling device (66) which divides the image into sub-regions or tiles. Two rendering devices (70A, 70B) are provided, and the tiles are allocated so that some are processed by one rendering device and some by the other. Polygons representing surfaces of objects to be displayed are tested against the tiles. If the surface falls into one sub-region only, the data is sent to one rendering device only. On the other hand, if the surface falls into two sub-regions being handled by the different rendering devices, then the data is sent to both rendering devices. The result is that a substantial proportion of the data need only be supplied to and processed by one rendering device, thereby speeding the operation of the apparatus. The outputs of the two rendering devices (70A, 70B) are subsequently combined by tile interleaving and image display circuitry (72).

Abstract: An image reducing device comprises a simple-averaging device that calculates a simple average of data of pixels of each simple-averaging area of original image data to acquire a pixel of middle image data, and a weighted-averaging device that multiplies data of pixels of the middle image data that are adjacent to a pixel of reduced image data by weight coefficients according to positions of the pixel of the reduced image data and the pixels of the middle image data to acquire the pixel of the reduce image data. In this method, the weighted-averaging is performed after the number of pixels are reduced by the simple-averaging, and this can obtain the reduced image of high quality without overloading the software and hardware. In addition, the edging can be easily performed at the same time as the weighted-averaging.

Abstract: Metallic paint colors are classified and arranged by determining the representative color of any metallic paint color; calculating the hue-tone value of said representative color; generating coating color computer graphics indicating optical properties of said metallic paint color in a prescribed range of angles of observation; and preparing a coating color map by arranging said coating color computer graphics over the hue-tone value of said representative color in a hue-tone chart on the monitor screen of a computer system.

Abstract: An error diffusing circuit modifies input video data signals representative of the gray levels of 8-bit gradation to output video data signals representative of the gray levels of 6-bit gradation, and an initial value generator produces an initial value for each of the first video data signals on each line of a frame, wherein the initial value generator varies the initial value depending upon the combination of a frame number, a line number and the color so that any pattern is not unintentionally produced on the display panel.

Abstract: A system and method for providing antialiasing of a graphical image on a display is disclosed. The graphical image is generated from data describing at least one object. The display includes a plurality of pixels. The at least one object includes a plurality of fragments. A portion of the plurality of fragments intersects a pixel of the plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of fragments including an indication of a portion of a corresponding pixel that is intersected. The system and method include providing at least one active region for the pixel. The at least one active region intersects a first portion of the pixel. The method and system also include providing at least one new region. A first portion of the at least one new region indicates where in the pixel the at least one active region and the fragment intersect. A second portion of the at least one new region indicates where in the pixel the at least one active region and the fragment do not intersect.

Abstract: An immersive video system is provided which enables a user to interact with immersive video on a variety of platforms. To accommodate different types of platform components, the resolution of the immersive video may be changed. In one embodiment, a pair of immersive videos, one of the immersive videos having a 360° field of view, are simultaneously played in a standard display software program. In another embodiment, a single immersive video mapping an environment greater than 360° is played in a standard display software program. The display software program can be chosen such that it is supported by a variety of platforms. A view window associated with the standard display software program defines the portion of the immersive video shown to the viewer. A control adjusted by the viewer pans the view window around one of the pair of immersive videos.

Abstract: Three-dimensional compressed geometry is decompressed with a unit having an input FIFO receiving compressed data bits and outputting to an input block state machine and an input block, whose outputs are coupled to a barrel shifter unit. Input block output also is input to Huffman tables that output to the state machine. The state machine output also is coupled to a data path controller whose output is coupled to a tag decoder, and to a normal processor receiving output from the barrel shifter unit The decompressor unit also includes a position/color processor that receives output from the barrel shifter unit. Outputs from the normal processor and position/color processor are multiplexed to a format converter. For instructions in the data stream that generate output to the format converter, the decompression unit generates a tag sent to the tag decoder in parallel with bits for normals that are sent to the format converter.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for creating three-dimensional models in a graphics texture mapping system and are especially useful for creating three-dimensional urban models. A computer includes a graphics application program and an application programming interface. A single rectangular, composite building texture map is formed for each of a plurality of three-dimensional objects corresponding to individual buildings and have a reduced area of pixels within each composite building texture map as caused by rotating individual images. A site model clip map image contains each composite building texture map in a spatially correct position that has been expanded such that no overlap remains.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuration using a portable electronic configuration device. The portable device is attached to an unconfigured electronic device. The portable device causes the unconfigured device to send configuration data to a coupled device. The coupled device uses the data to configure the unconfigured device.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a computer graphics rendering system, method and program product for drawing a plurality of pixels in parallel.

Abstract: A method for displaying a compacted data signal, comprising the steps of acquiring a data signal comprising a plurality of data values; computing a compaction table based upon said acquired data signal; generating a min/max pair for all data values of said data signal associated with each of a plurality of vertical pixel columns of a display device; drawing a single vertical line for each min/max pair; and repeating said acquiring, computing, generating and drawing steps for each data signal acquisition.

Abstract: A method and system for processing textures for a graphical image on a display is disclosed. The graphical image includes an object. The object includes a plurality of fragments. The method and system include providing a memory and providing a plurality of texture processors coupled with the memory. The memory is for storing a portion of a program for processing a plurality of textures for the plurality of fragments. Each of the plurality of texture processors is for processing a texture for a fragment in accordance with the program. The plurality of texture processors is capable of processing a part of the plurality of textures in parallel.

Abstract: A method and system for calculating an interpolated color value for a destination pixel from color values of source pixels adjacent to the destination pixel, where calculation of the color value of the destination pixel uses one of a plurality of interpolation functions selected according to the location of the destination pixel relative to one of the adjacent source pixels. Selection of the particular interpolation may be accomplished by defining a corresponding plurality of regions within the area covered by the adjacent source pixels and assigning an interpolation function to each of the regions. The region in which the destination pixel is located is identified, and the interpolation function assigned to the identified region is applied in the destination pixel color value calculation.

Abstract: An accumulation buffer is cleared (S501), an real image is input (S502), a color buffer is cleared (S503), and the real image is drawn in the color buffer (S504). Then the viewpoint (including parameters concerning the viewpoint) and the view volume of a virtual camera is set (S505) and a computer graphics image is drawn in the color buffer (S506). Then each pixel value of the image in the color buffer is scaled by a factor of 1/N (S507) and the scaled image is added to the accumulation buffer (S508). The process from step S503 to step S508 is repeated N times (S509) by moving the viewpoint position at step S505. An averaged image provided by averaging, on a pixel basis, N combined images stored in the accumulation buffer is output (S510).

Abstract: An intelligent shape is displayed in conjunction with a CAD application program, wherein the intelligent shape selectively displays positioning and alignment aids on the monitor of the computer to assist a user in operating one or more functions of the host application program. When invoked, the intelligent shape displays plugs and sockets related to the shapes on the monitor and aids the user in positioning, aligning, rotating, and connecting shapes together.